Ink roll cartridge

ABSTRACT

A cartridge for an ink roll is disclosed comprising a pair of cylindrical casing or shell elements each of which has a cylindrical side wall and end walls. The ink roll is encased within the two cylindrical elements which are nested together and mounted for limited relative rotation with respect to one another. Each cylindrical element has an opening in the side wall. The openings are out of registry with one another thereby sealing the cartridge and preventing contact with the ink roll when the cylindrical elements are in a first position. Upon relative rotation of the elements to a second position the openings are in registry so that a portion of the ink roll is exposed for contact by a printing member. A releasable fitting, for example of the bayonet type is provided on the end wall of one of the casing elements. Upon rotation of the other casing element to lock the bayonet fitting the two casing elements are caused to rotate relative to one another to expose the ink roll. Relative rotation of the casing elements in the opposite direction effects release of the bayonet fitting and movement of the casing elements to close the cartirdge. Also disclosed are mounting means for moving the cartridge toward and away from the printing members.

United States Patent [191 Hunter [451 Jan. 14, 1975 [73] Assignee:Decision Data Computer Corporation, Horsham, Pa.

221 Filed: June 11, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 368,995

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 159,811, July 6,1971, Pat. No.

[52] US. Cl. 101/103, 101/352 [51] Int. Cl B411 31/30, B41j 27/20 [58]Field of Search 101/328-331, 101/36, 37, 206, 350, 348-352, 103

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 448,219 3/1891 Foley 101/3301,689,177 10/1928 Storck 101/351 1,901,284 3/1933 Carlson... 101/3481,922,533 8/1933 Elli0tt.... 101/352 2,166,271 7/1939 Storck..., 101/3512,312,053 2/1943 Robbins et al. 101/350 2,539,383 1/1951 Davidson101/352 2,691,936 10/1954 Farkas et a1. 101/35 2,868,122 1/1959 Faeber101/348 3,286,622 11/1966 Mestre 101/352 3,433,155 3/1969 Norton 101/349Primary ExaminerRobert E. Pulfrey Assistant ExaminerWilliam PieprzAttorney, Agent, or FirmSynnestvedt & Lechner [57] ABSTRACT A cartridgefor an ink roll is disclosed comprising a pair of cylindrical casing orshell elements each of which has a cylindrical side wall and end walls.The ink roll is encased within the two cylindrical elements which arenested together and mounted for limited relative rotation with respectto one another. Each cylindrical element has an opening in the sidewall. The openings are out of registry with one another thereby sealingthe cartridge and preventing contact with the ink roll when thecylindrical elements are in a first position. Upon relative rotation ofthe elements to a second position the openings are in registry so that aportion of the ink roll is exposed for contact by a printing member. Areleasable fitting, for example of the bayonet type is provided on theend wall of one of the casing elements. Upon rotation of the othercasing element to lock the bayonet fitting the two casing elements arecaused to rotate relative to one another to expose the ink roll.Relative rotation of the casing elements in the opposite directioneffects release of the bayonet fitting and movement of the casingelements to close the cartirdge. Also disclosed are mounting means formoving the cartridge toward and away from the printing members.

5 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures INK ROLL CARTRIDGE This is a division ofapplication Ser. No. 159, 811, filed July 6, 1971 and now US. Pat. No.3,785,288.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to printing devices andmore particularly to a cartridge for an ink dispensing roll which isadapted for applying ink to type-carrying printing elements used forexample in high speed printers and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional ink rolls of the kind used forink printing cylinders or elements of data processing printers or thelike are practically impossible to install without physical contant withthe ink roll itself with the result that the person doing the job endsup with ink-stained fingers. This is irritating to the worker, and oftenresults in messy work product, stained clothing or the like due tocontact with the ink roll or ink-stained fingers.

Although cartridges for typewriter ribbons, for example of the kindshown in US. Pat. No. 2,986,260, have been provided to make it possiblefor the typist to easily mount the typewriter ribbon on a typewritterwithout touching the ribbon, to the best of my knowledge, a suitablecartridge has not been devised for printer ink rolls. This despite thefact that the porous ink rolls store a large quantity of ink and are farmore likely to cause a mess when the ink roll is being replaced.

With the foregoing in view, an important object of this invention is theprovision of a cartridge structure for ink rolls used for inking thetype characters on a printing member.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an ink rollcartridge promoting cleanliness and permitting changing of ink rollswhen the supply of ink in the roll in use is exhausted.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cartridgecomprising a pal] of movable casing elements which are adapted to bemoved relatively to one another to a position in which the ink roll isexposed when the cartridge is fastened in place in the printer and to aposition in which the ink roll is covered as the cartridge is removedfrom the printer.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of novelmounting means for mounting a disposable ink cartridge on a printer.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription of an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

In summary, the above and other objects of the invention areaccomplished by a structure which comprises a pair of relativelyrotatable interfitting casing elements each of which has an opening inits side wall and within which an ink roll is rotatably mounted. Thecasing elements are adapted to be relatively moved from a first positionin which the openings in the side wall are out of registry therebycovering the entire ink roll. to a second position in which the openingsare in registry thereby exposing the surface of the ink roll so that itcan be pressed into contact with a type carrying printing element.

Preferably the cartridge is mounted on a support member which ispivotally movable toward and away from the printing element. Releasablelocking means are provided for the cartridge which require relativemovement of the cartridge elements to the position in which the openingsare in registry in order to effect locking of the cartridge on itsmount. Movement of the cartridge to release it from the support memberinvolves moving the openings out of registry so that the ink roll iscovered.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, partly in section, taken as indicated by the line11 of FIG. 3 with the ink roll cartridge in the position in which theink roll is exposed and in contact with a print head;

FIG. 2 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 with the cartridge pivoted awayfrom the print head and the casing parts in the position in which theink roll is covered but with the parts of the bayonet coupling not yetinterconnected.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view with the ink roll cartridge shown insection as taken on the lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross section taken as indicated by the lines 4-4of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a detail elevational view of the elements in position in whichthe ink roll is exposed;

FIG. 6 is a detail elevational view of the cartridge in the position inwhich the ink roll is covered;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of various parts of the apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a detail plan view of the pivotal cartridge support element;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the block on which the cartridge supportis pivotally mounted, and

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the stop member which limits the pivotalmovement of the parts.

Attention is first directed to FIG. 1 through 6 which illustrate variousaspects of a cartridge incorporating the principles of the presentinvention. As is best shown in these figures, the cartridge comprises apair of easing or shell elements 20 and 21. As shown in the drawingsthese shell elements are typically of cylindrical shape, each elementbeing provided with a cylindrical side wall and end walls. Casingelement 21 is slightly smaller in diameter than the casing element 20 sothat it fits within that element with sufficient clearance so that theelements are readily rotatable with respect to one another. Each of theelements 20 and 21 has an opening or window identified by the numbers20a and 21a re spectively located in its side wall. An ink roll 22described more fully hereinafter is housed within the cartridgecomprising the casing elements 20 and 21.

Means are provided, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 for limiting the amount ofrelative rotation of the two casing elements. In the illustrativeembodiment, this' means simply comprises a pair of slots 23 locatedoppositely one another in the sidewall of the casing element 20 and pins24 which 20a in the slots. For convenience in manufacture, the Pins 24may be molded integrally in the casing element 21. the slots thus definethe limits of rotation of the two casing elements. In the position ofthe parts shown in FIG. 6, the pin 24 shown in full lines is at the lefthand end of its slot 23 and openings 20a and 21a are out of registry. Inthe position shown in FIG. 5, the pin 24 shown in full lines is at theright hand end of its slot 23 and the openings 201and 21 are inregistry.

Preferably, the slots 23 are inclined slightly so that when the casingelements are rotated to the position in which the openings are inregistry, element 20 is raised slightly relatively to element 21. As canbe seen in the try so that the ink roll is exposed, the boss movesupward sufficiently to permit rotational movement of the ink roll. 7

Preferably the ends of slots 23 are provided with small notches 26 and27, the notch 26 extending downwardly from the slot and notch 27extending upwardly therefrom. As can be seen in FIGS. and 6 the notcheshold the parts against inadvertent rotational movement when the pinrests in one or the other of them. In order to move the housing partsfrom the position of FIG. 6 from the position to FIG. 5 the parts mustbe compressed slightly to move pins 24 out of the notches they areresting in. To return the housing parts to the position where theopenings are out of registry, housing elements is lifted slightly andthen rotated.

As can be understood upon reference to FIGS. 1 through 3, the cartridgeis adapted to cooperate with a printing head or cylinder 28. The head 28is typically comprised of a plurality-of type carrying printing elements29. Elements 29 are located on a shaft 30 which is journaledon a support31 bolted to a base 32.'A pulley 33 is secured to the shaft and rotatesthe printing elements by virture of a belt drive. A portion of the beltis shown at 34in FIG. 1 through 3. It will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that the above printing mechanism is of conventionaldesign, this portion of the mechanism being described by way ofbackground for illustrative purposes only.

The supporting apparatus for the ink cartridge will next be described.The cartridge is mounted on a cartridge support member 35 best shown inFIGS. 2, 4, 7 and 8. Cartridge support member 35 is provided with anaxial bore 36 (FIG. 4). A shaft 37 is journaled for rotation within thebore by means of bearings 38. A spacer39 is mounted on the shaft betweenthe bearings 38, the spacer being held in place by a retainer ring 40which fits within a groove in the bore 36. A pair of machine screws 41are threadedly secured to the support member 35 on either side of thelower bearing 38. Washers 42 beneath the heads of the machine screws 41overlap the bearing thereby locking it in place.

A fitting 44 on which the ink roll is mounted is secured to the upperend of shaft 37. Fitting 44 is slotted as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 7 soas to be separated into four yieldable pieces 44a. The ends of pieces44a flare outwardly and then are cut away. A seat 44b on which the inkroll rests when it is properly positioned on fitting 44 is locatedbeneath the yieldable pieces 44a. 44a.

As seen in FIG. 3, the cartridge element 21 is provided with a shaftreceiving opening surrounded by a neck or sleeve 45. In FIG. 3, the inkroll cartridge is shown mountedon the fitting 44 with the ink roll hubresting on seat 44b and the flared portion 44a extending beyond the hubso the ink roll is held in place.

. Sleeve 45 carries a releasable coupling element locking the cartridgeon the cartridge support. As perhaps best shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 abayonet type coupling is provided including slot 46 which extendsvertically and then horizontally as the parts are oriented in thedrawings. A pin 47 which fits within the slot extends radially from thecartridge support. Immediately beneath the pin 47 is mounted a springwasher 48.

In order to secure the cartridge on the cartridge support member 35, thecartridge is pressed downwardly with the parts positioned so that thepin is aligned with the vertical part of slot 46. The cartridge is moveddownwardly until the pin reaches the end of the vertical .portion of theslot and the cartridge is then rotated in a clockwise direction asviewed in FIGS. 1 and 2 by turning the casing element 20. This moves thepin into the horizontal portion of the slot and at the same time movescasing element 20 relative to element 21 thereby exposing the ink roll.In the preferred embodiment when the cartridge is in position so thatthe pin is able to enter the horizontal portion of the slot 46, springwasher 48 presses upwardly on the sleeve 45 thereby holding the pin in anotch at the end of the horizontal portion of the slot thereby lockingthe parts in place. When the parts of the bayonet fitting are coupled inthe manner just described, the pins 24 in casing elements 21 rest in thenotches 27 in slots 23 so that the casing parts are also locked inposition.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the cartridgesupport member 35 is pivotally mounted so that it can move the ink rolltoward and away from the type carrying printing elements 29. To that endthe support member 35 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 50 (see especiallyFIG. 7) which is secured to a pivot block 51. Block 51 is also providedwith a boss 52 and a threaded bore 53 extending upwardly centrally ofthe boss. A retaining ring or washer 54 holds the cartridge supportmember on shaft 50. A bolt 55 which fits through a hole in base 32secures the pivot block in place.

Preferably, means are provided for limiting movement of thecartridgesupport member between a position in which it is yieldably heldagainst the printing head and a position in which it is away from theprinting head, the latter position being termed the loading position.For this purpose, a stop member 56 shown in detail in FIG. 10 is mountedon the boss 52 for limited movement with respect to the pivot block 51.

Stop member.56 is provided with a pair of upright arms 57 and 58. Arm 57carries a set screws 57a which bears against the block 51 when the partsare in the printing position as shown in FIG. 1. Arm 58 fits within aslot 59 in the cartridge support member 35 as can be best seen perhapsin FIG. 2. A spring 60 is mounted within a transversely extending bore61 located in member 35 as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. The end ofthe spring bears against the arm 58 and functions to yieldingly urge thecartridge support member in the clockwise direction relatively to thestop member as the parts are viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Detent means serves to hold the cartridge support member and the stopmember 35a the loading position and also in the position in which theink roll is firmly held against the printing cylinder. Preferably, thedetent means comprises a spring loaded ball which is mounted in thepivot block 51 and is shown in broken lines at 62 in FIG. 3. Detent ball62 is adapted to fit in one of a plurality of detent holes 63 located inthe upper surface of the stop member 56. When the cartridge is moved tothe loading position, the cartridge support member and the stop memberare rotated in the counterclockwise direction relatively to the pivotblock 51 and when the detent ball 62 drops into a detent hole 63 partsare yieldably held in that position. Pressure to move the support member35 in the clockwise direction is transmitted to the stop member 56because the arm 35a bears directly against the arm .58. Relativerotation of the stop member thus takes place until the detent pin 62slips into the next detent hole 63. The set screw 57a limits themovement of the stop member relatively to the pivot block 51. Byadjusting the set screw, the stop member is freed to move a furtheramount in the clockwise direction so that the detent ball can move intothe next detent hole 63, thereby more firmly pressing the print rolleragainst the printing elements of the printing head if that is desired.

Print roll 22 is typically an ink filled porous member, a suitable rollfor the purpose being available from S. C. Johnson & Sons Company andsold under the trademark PORLON. Other rolls made, for example, ofporous nylon, polyvinylchloride and the like may also be employed.

When it becomes necessary to replace a cartridge, the ink roll ispivoted away from the position in which it is in contact with the printhead by swinging the cartridge in the counterclockwise direction fromthe position shown in FIG. 1 to that shown in FIG, 2. Detent ball 62locks it in this position when it drops into the appropriate detent holein stop member 56. The cartridge element 20 is now rotated in thecounterclockwise direction relative to the element 21 and this motioncovers the spent ink roll and simultaneously moves the pin of thebayonet coupling out of the horizontal portion of the slot. Thecartridge can now be simply pulled off the support and discarded.

A new cartridge is installed with the parts shown in FIG. 2 by pressingthe new cartridge down onto the upstanding portion of shaft 37 with thepin 47 in registry with vertical portion of slot 46. The entirecartridge is rotated by rotating cartridge element 20 in the clockwisedirection. This motion locks the cartridge on the support member andmoves the openings 20a and 21a into registry so that the ink roll isexposed for contact with the printing head. Pivotal movement of thecartridge support member about the shaft 50 by pressing on thecartridge, moves the ink roll into contact with the printing head.

It can be seen from the foregoing that a simple, clean and efficienthandling of ink rolls for printing elements is provided for by the useof my invention. Physical contact with the ink roll is eliminated as isthe mess caused by handling the ink rolls. Further, an ink roll is notlikely to be left exposed on a desk or machine top where it can stainequipment or papers because the removal of the cartridge from theprinter requires that the operator close the cartridge.

I claim:

1. Printing apparatus for use with a rotary print head, comprising, anink roll cartridge including a pair of casing elements, an ink rollinside the casing elements, means mounting said casing elements forrotational movement with respect to one another between a position inwhich the roll is encased by said casing element and a position in whichit is exposed for contact with such print head, a pivotal mountingmember supporting said ink roll cartridge, securement means carried bysaid cartridge and said pivotal mounting member and cooperable to securesaid ink roll cartridge upon said pivotal mounting member, and stopmeans movable with said pivotal mounting member for limiting themovement of said member between a cartridge-loading position and aposition in which the roll is disposed for contact with such a printhead, and means for interconnecting said casing elements and saidsecurement means such that force exerted in a direction to engage saidsecurement means effects such movement of said casing elements as toexpose said ink roll, and force exerted in a direction to disengage saidsecurement means effects such movement of said casing elements as toencase said ink roll.

2. Printing apparatus for use with a wheel-like rotary print head, andincluding, a pair of interfitting elements defining a cartridge housingan ink roll, one of said elements having a mounting hub and said pair ofelements being rotatable with respect to one another between a positionin which the roll is encased and a position in which it is exposed forcontact with such a print head, and means mounting said cartridge formovements between a first, cartridge-loading, position in which saidroll is spaced from such print head, and a second, printing, position inwhich said roll is positioned for contact with such print head, saidlast means comprising: a support member having detent means thereon;means mounting said support member for swinging movements between saidfirst and second positions; and a shaft journalled in said supportmember and having a free end portion extending through said hub, withinsaid cartridge, into releasable engagement with said ink roll, andmounting the latter for rotation within the cartridge, said hub and thedetent means of said support member being configured for engagement, byrelative rotation in one direction, to hold said cartridge upon saidsupport member and to cause such relative rotation between said elementsas to expose said ink roll, relative rotation between said hub and thedetent means of said support member, in the opposite direction, servingto cause such relative rotation between said elements as to encase saidink roll, and to disengage said hub from said detent means toaccommodate removal of said cartridge from said support member.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, and further characterized inthat said engagable hub and detent means comprise a bayonet and slotconnection.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, and further including stopmeans carried by said support member and by said support member mountingmeans, and so cooperable as resiliently to hold said support member ineither said first or said second position.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, and further including meansreacting between said support member and said support member mountingmeans and effective, when said support member occupies said secondposition, to urge said member in a direction such that said roll isurged toward such print headv UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICECERTIFICATE or coene crrom PATENT NO. 3,859 ,915

DATED I January 14, 1975 lN\/ ENTOR(S) Alexander Hunter It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the abstract, Line 22,

"cartirdge" should be -cartridge--.

Column 1, Line 39 "pall" should be pair.

Column 2, Line 54 "20a" should be ride-.

Column 2, Line 57 "the" should be -The-.

Column 2, Line 63 "201" should be 20a.

Column 3, Line 20 elements" should be -element.

Column 3, Line 55 delete "44a", second occurrence.

Column 4, Line ,56

"35a" should be in.

Signed and Sealed this A ttest:

RUTH C. MASON Arresting Officer C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner 0f Parentsand Trademurkx

1. Printing apparatus for use with a rotary print head, comprising, anink roll cartridge including a pair of casing elements, an ink rollinside the casing elements, means mounting said casing elements forrotational movement with respect to one another between a position inwhich the roll is encased by said casing element and a position in whichit is exposed for contact with such print head, a pivotal mountingmember supporting said ink roll cartridge, securement means carried bysaid cartridge and said pivotal mounting member and cooperable to securesaid ink roll cartridge upon said pivotal mounting member, and stopmeans movable with said pivotal mounting member for limiting themovement of said member between a cartridge-loading position and aposition in which the roll is disposed for contact with such a printhead, and means for interconnecting said casing elements and saidsecurement means such that force exerted in a direction to engage saidsecurement means effects such movement of said casing elements as toexpose said ink roll, and force exerted in a direction to disengage saidsecurement means effects such movement of said casing elements as toencase said ink roll.
 2. Printing apparatus for use with a wheel-likerotary print head, and including, a pair of interfitting elementsdefining a cartridge housing an ink roLl, one of said elements having amounting hub and said pair of elements being rotatable with respect toone another between a position in which the roll is encased and aposition in which it is exposed for contact with such a print head, andmeans mounting said cartridge for movements between a first,cartridge-loading, position in which said roll is spaced from such printhead, and a second, printing, position in which said roll is positionedfor contact with such print head, said last means comprising: a supportmember having detent means thereon; means mounting said support memberfor swinging movements between said first and second positions; and ashaft journalled in said support member and having a free end portionextending through said hub, within said cartridge, into releasableengagement with said ink roll, and mounting the latter for rotationwithin the cartridge, said hub and the detent means of said supportmember being configured for engagement, by relative rotation in onedirection, to hold said cartridge upon said support member and to causesuch relative rotation between said elements as to expose said ink roll,relative rotation between said hub and the detent means of said supportmember, in the opposite direction, serving to cause such relativerotation between said elements as to encase said ink roll, and todisengage said hub from said detent means to accommodate removal of saidcartridge from said support member.
 3. Apparatus in accordance withclaim 2, and further characterized in that said engagable hub and detentmeans comprise a bayonet and slot connection.
 4. Apparatus in accordancewith claim 2, and further including stop means carried by said supportmember and by said support member mounting means, and so cooperable asresiliently to hold said support member in either said first or saidsecond position.
 5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, and furtherincluding means reacting between said support member and said supportmember mounting means and effective, when said support member occupiessaid second position, to urge said member in a direction such that saidroll is urged toward such print head.